School absences have risen dramatically as parents and students cope with the Covid-19 pandemic, and Dallas ISD is launching an all-out effort to help students get back in school and engaged. Beginning Monday, February 1, and continuing through February 27, district teams will be reaching out to students and parents by phone, text and email as a part of “Operation Comeback Student Re-Engagement,” an effort to help students get back on track to continue their education. Starting Wednesday, February 3, families not reached remotely will receive contact-free home visits by staff members seeking to find out how the district can…

A press conference on Wednesday morning formally announced that Dallas ISD is partnering with Paul Quinn College, an HBCU, to open a school that will operate under the International Baccalaureate model (IB) in southern Dallas. The press conference announced that the new school, which is enrolling students right now for next school year, will be named, pending board approval, after Frederick D. Haynes, the leader of Friendship-West Baptist Church, national activist and trustee for Paul Quinn College. “This for me is something that I cannot find words to express my appreciation for,” said Haynes, who was joined at the press…

The largest STEM EXPO in Texas went virtual last weekend when Dallas ISD hosted their annual STEM Expo on Saturday, Jan. 23. Those unable to attend on the Jan. 23 are in luck: the Dallas ISD Virtual STEM EXPO is available online until Sunday, Feb. 21! Students and families all across Dallas, regardless of whether they attend a Dallas ISD school or not, are invited to explore the STEM Zones, catch the fun and action-packed science on the STEM Stage, check out the new Career Institutes and the STEM District Competitions. The expo has over 180 hands-on exhibits and served…

The Texas K-12 CTO Council announced today, in recognition of his efforts championing the state-wide Operation Connectivity initiative, Superintendent Michael Hinojosa, is the winner of the Empowered Superintendent Award. Each year, the Council selects a superintendent who has promoted and supported innovative uses of technology in their district. The award considers categories of leadership, innovative projects, collaboration, and district awards and recognitions. Thanks to Hinojosa, not only does Dallas ISD remain at the forefront of twenty-first-century education and the conversion to digital learning, but at a critical moment, he pushed for increased access to technology across Texas, to level the…